HC Deb 11 April 1978 vol 947 cc360-1W
Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify in detail the progressive improvements mentioned in paragraph 124 of Command Paper No. 7132, "Policy for Roads: England 1978," in respect of access from the Midlands and Oxford to Southampton.

Mr. Horam

Information about 23 schemes on the relevant parts of the M3, M27, M40, A34, A423 and the proposed new route between Oxford and Birmingham is given in Table 5 of Cmnd. 7132.

Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify in detail the planned improvements to the roads north-west from Southampton towards Bristol referred to in paragraph 124 of Command Paper No. 7132, "Policy for Roads: England 1978."

Mr. Horam

Information about five schemes on the relevant parts of the A4, A36 and A46 is given in Table 5 of Cmnd. 7132.

Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of paragraph 124 of Command Paper No. 7132, "Policy for Roads: England 1978", he will now announce his decision about the line of route for the missing section of the M27 between Hedge End and Chilworth; and when he now expects this missing section to be completed.

Mr. Horam

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment, are considering their decision and an announcement will be made as soon as possible. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and to the availability of funds at the time, this section of the M27 motorway is currently programmed to start in 1979 or 1980 and will take about two and a half years to complete.